November 13th, 2016
ICA Sunday Pulpit Message
Discover the Weekly Covenant (Acts 2:42:27)
(Intro)
It’s good to see you. Greet those around you. Have you had a good week? Today’s title is, “Discover the Weekly Covenant”. When we believe in Jesus, we do not go to heaven right away. We live here in this world and then go to heaven. There is one thing we must do in this world before we go to heaven. That is to receive the blessings of God. Even if you plant anything, you can still receive fruits. Even if you build anything, you can have a home. That is the blessing of God. I will tell you the way to receive that blessing. You don’t have to struggle to get it. That is worship. Through worship, when you receive the covenant, it will flow. That is what I will talk about today. The younger people always look for their ideal person. They look at their appearance and financial abilities. The people who have married a couple times know the answer. The realize that no matter how attractive or affluent they are, that isn’t enough. At the end, you will want someone with a great connection. There was a survey about that. A lot of people converse that if they have communication, that is ideal. Conversation is vital. The start and end of the marriage life is that. That is what marriage is about. Suppose there is a team. If teammates don’t talk with each other, they can’t function. Therefore, having a conversation is vital for efficiency. It is the same with adults. When there is a kid who listens to the adult, he would receive compliments. The greatest adult in the universe is God. God loves and blesses those who directly obey Him. Why is the vital?
1. When you receive the Word of God, you can start correctly
(1) The creation of all nature and its functions (Gen 1:3, 6, 9, 11, 14, 20, 22, 24)
(2) The blessing of original mankind (Gen 1:26, 29)
(3) The birth and start of the Early Church (Acts 1:3-9)
When you receive the Word of God, you can start correctly. When you start with the Word of God, you can start correctly. That is true for all creation and the world. God created all living things with His word. Even in the midst of growth, God gave function so that all things can grow. Hebrews 1 says that God upholds all things that He created. That is how He maintains all things with His word. God even created the beings who ruled over these things. That is mankind. God created mankind so that mankind can rule over these things. To that extent, God gave His word to mankind. He said to be blessed and grow in numbers to produce. He said that and they gave blessings. When the people of God or all things in this universe receive this word, that is the true start. I will give one example. There was this one man and woman. They have a relationship. They start to love one another. They have joyful and happy conversations. They embrace on another. They only talk about positive things. There will be a series of positive words. However, there is 1 negative word. “Do not meet other ladies.” What happens if you break that promise? That would be the start of betrayal. God created man and woman to be with them. He appointed them to enjoy those things. How much does God love mankind? God wants to be with them. God entrusts all things to mankind. God wants to give all things to mankind. God gave all creations to mankind. He created the Garden of Eden to give to them. He said one negative thing. He said to not eat of the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil. God knew ahead of time that once they break that promise, they will lose the glory of God. He knew about the curses because of their sin. God knew that they will suffer from those curses. That’s why He told them to not eat of it from the beginning. He gave the word to Adam directly. It is in Genesis 2:17. “you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die." Then, God creates a woman in verse 22. This man, created by God, was supposed to relay this message to the woman. She was supposed to correctly receive the word. Neither happened. In Genesis 3, the serpent tempts the lady. Then, from that temptation, the woman says nonsense. She remembered that they weren’t supposed to eat from it. She thought it was okay to touch it. Not knowing that, it means she didn’t receive the word correctly. The lady was not rooted by the word. It looks really tasty, so she ate the fruit. She let Adam eat it. Adam didn’t receive Gods’ word correctly. If he had, then he would’ve be enraged. However, he didn’t do that and ate it. This is not a fable. This is a true story. That is how Adam and Eve lost all those blessings. That’s how the curses and disasters came. This is when you can answer where did all those problems begin? Mankind faced destruction because they didn’t receive the word correctly. They were faced with curses and disasters. They received severe suffering. They faced death and judgment. They didn’t receive God’s word correctly. They didn’t relay the word of God correctly. This is written in the first part of the Bible. College students may ask why did God allow people to commit sin. That means that they don’t know the word of God. God completely gave the blessings. God only requested one thing. They didn’t keep that promise, they fell into curses. God provided the blessings and mankind broke that promise. God loves us so much that He gave us another solution which is another His word, Gen 3:15. Someone will come. There will be someone who receives the word of God correctly. I will send someone who will follow My word correctly. He will crush Satan’s head. He will be sacrificed for the sake of mankind. He will be the offspring of woman. That figure came. He fulfilled that word. Just as He said, He was born in Bethlehem. He grew up according to His word. He received the love of others. He was crucified on the cross and resurrected. He established the church. Jesus said to not leave Jerusalem. Wait for the promise of the Father. The people who kept that promise were the people of Mark’s Upper Room. The Holy Spirit was upon them according to His promise. The greater works of the Holy Spirit happened. They were speaking in tongues. The people who didn’t know the spiritual facts saw that and thought they were drunk. Peter interpreted that scene with the word of God. The word from the book of Joel took place. The words from Psalms took place. He was able to interpret the Word of God and give it. There were 3000 people who gathered based on the Word of Peter. They listened to the word of God. They received the teachings of the apostles. Even though mankind was separated from the Word of God, God is giving His word continuously. Through that, God is renewing all those things. Through that, the church started.
2. The Early Church accomplished everything through the pulpit message
(1) The life of a saint and function of a church (Acts 2:14-40, 42-27)
(2) Appointing church officers who will evangelize (Acts 6:1-6)
(3) Selecting the minister who will go on missions (Acts 13:1-3)
Look at the works of the Early Church. They had fellowship, the breaking of bread, communion, fellowship and gathered together. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts. They praise God. It says that they received the teachings of the apostles. That’s why they were able to receive complements from people. And, they were able to save souls attached by God. This is an abundant life of saints in the Early Church. This should be from the teachings of the apostles. Relaying the pulpit message will be the way to receive answers. What does it say about it in English? It is the doctrine of apostles. The doctrine talks about the policy of the church. You are supposed to follow that. That is how the Early Church members moved. One college student asked me why aren’t there any miracles like in the New Testament? I gave him a compliment because that means he reads the Bible. A lot of people don’t read the Bible. What does it say right before those miracles? People were fearful of God. Then miracles will happen. You don’t even remember the message from the pastor. You don’t even respect the pastor. When the Church members are in that respect, then miracles will start. That is the flow of spiritual blessings. It goes from top to bottom. That is when miracles start. Jesus was God Himself, but you might wonder why there was no miracle in Bethlehem. It is because people only saw Him as a human. It is not because of miracles itself, it was because of the fear and respect of those saints. When you fear God and respect your pastor, then, God will pour down those blessings. The Early Church makes a vital turning point. The apostles make a declaration. They appointed the workers. They appointed 7 church officers so that they can serve the church. What kind of people would they raise? They raised the deacons so they can evangelize. So, they were able to make a leap forward and greatly revived. However, persecution arose and they scattered. There were evangelists who were evangelizing while running away. When you go to Wal-Mart, you shop for groceries, but you can also evangelize. This is how Antioch Church established. The 5 leaders were raised and missionaries were sent. They had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off. All those things were based on the Pulpit. God wants to share His word. God wants us to receive His message well. That’ He established the pulpit so that we can receive the word of God correctly. If you have a lot of channels, it becomes complicated. Most of the media said that Hillary would become president. One channel said that Trump would be president. God, in order for you to not get confused, established 1 channel. No matter how much you are lacking, as long as you stick with the pulpit, God will bless you. Do not hold onto your own thoughts. Receive and follow the word of God. He will bless you. When you have problems, just interpret with the pulpit then you can receive the answers. Share the pulpit message through all meetings. God will attach disciples to you. I have experienced that. If a leader follows the will of God, he isn’t a dictator. If the members willingly receive the word from the leader, then he isn’t a dictator. That is the kingdom of God. We understand and accept those differences. We call that the kingdom of God. May you not have misunderstandings. That is how the Early Church members were blessed from God. The people of Romans 16 received that blessing. People have so much media. They know a lot of things, but they don’t have those thoughts organized. They have no direction. They lose ahold of all the blessings.
3. What must we find through the Sunday Pulpit Message?
(1) The things that are necessary for God throughout the week
(2) The words that God will fulfill through the week
(3) The doors of evangelism and missions that God will open throughout the week
We must have this concern. How can we receive this blessing? What must we do? Have success in worship to receive the Pulpit just like Abel. What kind of person was Abel? He was a shepherd. At that time, they used those lambs only for worship, not for food and clothing. He even staked his life for God’s worship. Abel’s worship was strong enough for him to fall to martyrdom. God will open the doors. Through the pulpit message, you need to find 3 things. In the announcements, God writes His demands. However, we would take it lightly. If you follow that, He will make sure He blesses you. Since 1988, when I first received this great blessing, He is never in debt. Suppose you offer 10 cents, God will give interest. Through the announcements, uncover the works of God. And, it is the word of God to be fulfilled in us. Discover the weekly covenant. If you receive that with faith and make prayer topic, God will fulfill it in you. Suppose that there is a person who needs this message, then share it. Once you succeed a worship and find weekly covenant, then the true answer will start. I will share 3 bible verses. Numbers 23:19, “God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?” John 6:63, “The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.” Lastly, Hebrews 4:12, “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” Focusing on the word will give blessings. Your blood will circulate better. Once you hold onto the word of God and enjoy, it will penetrate your body. He will heal our thoughts and intentions. If you enjoy the word of God, you can heal yourself. May you seek His powerful word of God. Hold onto the pulpit message with life.
(Prayer)
Dear precious Lord, may you be glorified. Pour down faith so that we may prosper. May no one lose the worship and pulpit message. May everyone enjoy the pulpit message that will take place naturally. May the workings of the book of Acts be upon us so that we may never fail. In Jesus Christ name, we pray, Amen.